Apparatus for handling coils



APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS Filed Aug. 9, 1956 4 Shouts-Sheet 1 Sept.22, 1959 A. LAINE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS Filed Aug. 9, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 2 p 22, 1959 E. A. LAINE 2,905,078

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS Filed Aug. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5

Sept. 22, 1959 E. A. LAINE 2,905,078

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING COILS Filed Aug. 9, 1956 x 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iQQQCPCPQ m Q.

L-LLLLL" E JLL LLL\ Fig.7

Fig.8

Patented Sept. 22, 1959 ice . APPARATUS FOR HANDLING corLs Edward A.Laine, Leechburg, Pa., assignor to Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation,Brackenridge, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 9,1956, Serial No. 603,022

9 Claims. (Cl. 100-42 This invention relates to apparatus for handlingslit strip coils of steel and the like for facilitating the bandingthereof.

When steel such as stainless, electrical silicon-iron, or the like, isrolled and finished in wide strip form, the strip is usually wound intocoils. Thereafter the coils are slit to predetermined widths and aplurality of slit strip coils, usually of diiferent widths, is obtainedfrom a single coil. In shipping such slit strip coils it is desirable toband the individual coils to hold them compact and to prevent shiftingof the convolutions thereof with accompanying damage to the edges of thestrip and introduction of strains therein.

Because of the weight of the wound coil, it has heretofore beendiflicult to handle the coil during the banding thereof withoutintroducing strains into the strip and in particular into the electricalsilicon-iron grade of steel. Considerable efforts have heretofore beenexpended in attempting to perfect an integrated handling and handingapparatus, some of which have not proven to be commercially successfulbecause of the mechanical operations required, or where mechanizedequipment has been produced and used, it has been found that the coilsare often damaged during the handling and handing operation.

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for mechanicallyhandling slit strip coils for facilitating the banding thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a roller conveyorsystem for conveying wound coils from one position to another, meansintermediate the ends of the roller conveyor for lifting a wound coiltherefrom and sequentially rotating the wound coil through a pluralityof banding positions to facilitate the banding thereof.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure 1 is a top plan view and partly in section of apparatus embodyingthe features of this invention with the banding machine removed;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a top plan view greatly enlarged of the coil supportingapparatus utilized in the system of Fig. 1, the conveyor rollers andadjacent portions of the device being shown generally in dashed lines;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation and partly in section of theapparatus of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of certain of the actuating mechanism of theapparatus illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the actuating mechanismillustrated in Fig. 5; i

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a control system suitable foruse in conjunction with the appara: tus of Figs. 1 through 4;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation and partly in section of a portion ofthe apparatus of Fig. 4 and illustrates the assembly of the magneticbrake; and

the apparatus of Fig. 9 is a view in end elevation and partly in sectionof a portion of the apparatus of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof,this invention is illustrated by reference to a roller conveyor systemshown generally at 10 which embodies features of this invention forfacilitating the handling and banding of slit strip coils 12 representedby the dot-dash outline in Figs. 1 and 2. The roller conveyor system 10is formed of a plurality of rollers 14 suitably supported in a supportframe 16 with an end of each of the rollers connected by a conventionalchain drive to be simultaneously driven from a source of power such asthe motor 18 illustrated in the schematic diagram of Fig. 7. In order tocontrol the speed of the motor 18, an

adjustable rheostat 17 is connected in series circuit with veyor system10 is formed of two sections of relatively.

short rollers 24 suitably carried in support frame members having theinner ends of the rollers 24 spaced apart to provide a space 26therebetween. A rotatable arm 28 is positioned adjacent the end of theroller conveyor 10 and is disposed for pivotal movement about a shaft 30from the vertical position illustrated in Fig. 2 to a substantiallyhorizontal position in the space 26 between the ends of the shortrollers 24. The details of the rotatable arm 28 and the operatingmechanism therefor form no part of this invention, but are illustratedand claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 530,463 filed August25, 1955, now Patent No. 2,780,985, issued February 12, 1957. Inpractice, the rotatable arm 28 is disposed adjacent the end of theroller conveyor 10 so that when the arm 28 is in the vertical positionillustrated in the arm '28 is rotated from the vertical positionillustrated in Fig. 2 through a substantially horizontal position andinto the space 26 between the rollers 24, the arm -28 will deposit thewound coil 12 in a horizontal position on the rollers 24. V i

In accordance with this invention a coil supporting and indexingapparatus 32 is disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyorsystem 10 for engaging the coil 12 when the coil is moved over therollers 14 to a position over the coil supporting apparatus 32. The termindexing apparatus, as used herein, means a movement controlling meansfor effecting a predetermined step movement of a coil through apredetermined number of band receiving positions as will be describedmore fully hereinafter. In this embodiment the coil supporting apparatus32 is formed of three radially spaced conical roller members 34, 36 and38 disposed substantially apart and angularly mounted with the upperline edge of each conical roller in a common horizontal plane anddisposed for movement upwardly with respect to the rollers 14 from anormal position shown in solid outline in. Fig. 4 to a coil supportingand rotating position shown in dashed outline. As illustratedin Fig. 1,suitable short rollers 40 are disposed between certain of the conicalrollers 34, 36 and 38 and supported by suitable stanchions in positiontherebetween for aiding in supporting the wound the same.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, where the details of the coil supportingapparatus 32 are particularly illustrated, it is noted that each conicalroller 34, 36 and 38 is supported in operative position .on a housing 42which contains and carries means for effecting a simultaneous rotatablemovement of the spaced conical rollers 34, 36 and 38. Each conicalroller is provided with a roller shaft 44 which is disposed to extendcentrally therethrough, one end being suitably carried as by means of asupport bracket 46 mounted on the upper plate 48 of the housing 42, theother end of the roller shaft extending through a cross support 50 of abracket 52 which is carried by the upper plate 48, a key plate 54carried by the cross support 50 being employed for maintaining the shaft44 in position. The conical rollers are provided with suitable sleevebearings for effecting rotation of the rollers about the shafts 44. Asillustrated, the outer or large end of each of the conical rollers 34,36 and 38 is provided with a bevel gear 56 about the periphery thereofdisposed to be engaged and driven by a miter gear 58. Each of the mitergears is secured to the upper end of an associated shaft 60 whichextends vertically through the upper plate 48 and the lower plate 62 ofthe housing 32 and is provided with a pinion gear 64 at the lower endthereof. Each of the shafts 60 is mounted in suitable bearings 61 and 63carried by the upper and lower plates 48 and 62, respectively, of thehousing 3'2 whereby, when the pinion gears 64 are driven as will bedescribed, operation of the miter gears 58 and consequently a rotationof the associated conical rollers is effected.

The housing 32 is provided with suitable outwardly extending supportlugs 66 disposed in spaced relation about the periphery of the upperplate 48. Each of the lugs 66 is supported as by means of the spacedside flange members 68 mounted on the sides of the housing 32.Associated with each of the lugs 66 is a suitable lifting cylinder 70mounted as illustrated in Fig. 4 on the floor 20 in spaced relationabout the housing 32. The lifting cylinders 70 may be of any suitablefluid type and may be operated either by action of liquid or air asdesired, it

being understood that each such lifting cylinder 70 is provided with apiston disposed to be actuated so that when the upper support member 72mounted on the piston shaft .74 is seated against the associated lug 66,the entire housing assembly 32 can be-suitably lifted to move at leastthe coil supporting surfaces of the conical rollers 34, 36and .38 abovethe level of the rollers 14 of the conveyor. A typical hydraulic jackthat may be utilized as the lifting cylinder 70 is that known to theindustry as the Hanna Hydraulic Cylinder Model 18 or Model 18 /2 asillustrated and described in catalog No. 233A (1950) of the HannaEngineering Works of Chicago, Illinois. In a normal position the conicalrollers 34, 36 and 38 are normally disposed beneath the support level ofthe rollers '14 as shown in solid outline in Fig. 4 whereby the spacedconical rollers 34, 36 and 38 will not interfere with movement of awound coil 12 on the roller conveyor system, but under predeterminedconditions can be operated upwardly to'the position shown in dashedoutline in Fig. 4 whereby the rollers 34, 36 and 38 engage a wound coil12 positioned thereover and lift it above the supporting surface of therollers 14.

In order to effect a simultaneous operation of the rollers 34, 36 and38, a drive mechanism such as a large gear wheel 76 is disposed toengage the spaced pinion gears 64 previously referredto. The gear wheel76 is provided with a hub 77 as shown in Figs. 6 and 8 disposed aboutand supported on shaft 75, the upper end of the shaft being flanged (notshown) and being supported in a downwardly projecting non-rotatingposition from a suitable jhousing .73 carried by the-lower sideof thebottom plate 62, the details of such support not being necessary for thepurpose of this .invention. .A downwardly extending section of the hub77 forms a rotating brake wheel or sleeve 79 as will be referred tohereinafter. The gear wheel 76 is disposed to be operated in response tothe energization of a motor 78 carried within the housing 32 and whichis connected through a flexible drive coupling 80 and a gear reducer 82to drive a crank 84 mounted on the lower end of the gear reducer shaft86 to effect a rotation of the crank 84 as the shaft 86 of the gearreducer is rotated. The details of the mounting of the crank 84 andactuating mechanism for the gear wheel 76 are illustrated in theenlarged views of Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing. As shown, the crank 84is provided with a hub 83 at one end thereof disposed about and securedto the gear reducer shaft 86 by means of a driven key Referring to Fig.9, the other end of the crank 84 is provided with a downwardlyprojecting pin 88 about which a collar 98 is positioned being spaced bya washer 81 from the crank 84 and maintained in rotatable position as bymeans of a keeper plate 92 held in position by means of a set screw 94which projects upwardly into the lower end of the pin 88. An arm 96having a fork end with arms 98 and 100 spaced to receive the collar isdisposed for connecting the crank 84 with the gear wheel 76. The arm 96is mounted as by means of pins 102 and 104 projecting through arms 98and respectively, into the collar 90, such pins being held in operativerelation as by means of set screws 106 and 108, respectively, wherebythe arm 96 is disposed for pivotal movement about the downwardlyprojecting pin .88 and for vertical pivotal movement about the pins 102and 104. The other end of the arm 96 is provided with a downwardlyprojecting pin 110 disposed to cooperate .for engaging the gear wheel 76to eflect a predetermined movement thereof.

As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper surface of the gear wheel 76is provided with two indexing cam patterns 112 and 114, each of the campatterns forming a circle disposed about the centrally disposedsupporting shaft 75. The cam pattern 112 is the larger of the campatterns and is provided with four cam surfaces 116, 11 8, 120 and 122,terminating in pin receiving abutments 124, 126, 128 and 138,respectively, whereas .cam pattern 114 is provided with only three camsurfaces 132, 134:and 136, which terminate in pin receiving abutments138, and 142, re-

spectively. The arm 96is disposed to be-liftedand moved about thedownwardly projecting pin 88 between the cam patterns 112 and 114 asdesired, depending upon whether the coil 12 is to be banded, as will bedescribed hereinafter, in four positions or in three positions, it beingnoted that the weight of the arm 96 is sufficient to normally in Figs. 1and 3, the housing 32 is recessed whereby the banding machine 144 may bemoved into operative position between the conical rollers 38 and .34 foreffectively banding the 'coil .12. V

As illustrated in Fig. 4 and .Fig. 8 of the'drawing, the shaft 75 whichsupports the gearwheel 76 and ;its integrally welded hub 77 and brakesleeve 79-extends downwardly therefrom and supports a suitablemagneticbrake represented at 146 whichis carried on a non-rotating'biake shoe mounting 147 and which is disposed to effectively brake themovement of the gear 76 in a well .kn X-vnmanner when the brake 146isenergized. The-magnetic brake 146 may be of the typeillustrated-havingtwo brake shoes disposed to be actuated to engage thebrake sleeve 79, the details of such a magnetic brake being well knownand shown .in the publication entitled General Electric InstructiOnSD.C.Magnet-Operated Two-Shoe ,Bra'kes IC-9528 (GEH-1930). The magnetic brakemounting member 147 and the brake carried thereby are suitably held inoperative position on the shaft 75 in juxtaposition to the brake sleeve79 as by means of a threaded fastener 148 threaded on the end of theshaft 75.

Referring to Fig. 7, there is illustrated a schematic diagram of acontrol system suitable for controlling the operation of the apparatuspreviously described. The rollers 14 of the roller conveyor system aredisposed to be driven by a motor 18 connected to be energized as from asource represented by the positive and negative terminals. In ordertoprovide for a positive stop of a wound coil 12 in the proper positionover the conical rollers 34, 36 and 38, any suitable limit indicator 150may be disposed in the path of movement of the coil 12 so when the coil12 is properly positioned over the conical rollers 34, 36 and 38, thelimit indicator 150 will be actuated to operate a limit switch 152 towhich the indicator is mechanically connected, to a circuit interruptingposition to effectively deenergize the motor 18 and stop the operationof the roller conveyor system 10. A manually operable switch 153 isdisposed for operation to establish a shunt across the limit switch 152to initiate the operation of the motor 18 as will be referred tohereinafter. Each of the lifting cylinders 70 is suitably connected asby means of a conduit 154 to a suitable valve mechanism 156, the valve158 of which is disposed to be operated to permit a flow of fluidpressure through the port 160 to the conduit 154 or a flow of the fluidpressure from the lifting cylinders 70 and conduits 154 through the port162. In order to control the movement of the valve 158, the valve isconnected at the one end to a suitable electromagnet 164 and at theother end to a suitable electromagnet 166, the energization of theelectromagnets 164 and 166 being controlled as by means of the manuallyoperated contact members 168 and 170, respectively, to effectivelycontrol the simultaneous operation of the lifting cylinders 70.

As illustrated, the motor 78 which controls the drive of the gear wheel76 is disposed to be energized from any suitable source represented bythe positive and negative terminals and is connected through the gearreducer 82 to drive the crank 84. Likewise, the magnetic brake 146 isdisposed to be connected to a suitable source of power represented bythe positive and negative terminals. As illustrated, the connection ofboth the motor 78 and the magnetic brake 146 to their power sources iscontrolled by operation of an electromagnetic interlock 172 havingcontact members 174 and 176 disposed to be simultaneously operatedthereby, the operation of the interlock being controlled by means of theenergizing windings 178 which are disposed to be energized from asuitable source represented by the positive and negative terminals. Theenergization of the windings 178, how ever, is controlled as by means ofmanually operated contact member 180 and a limit switch 182. Themanually operated contact member 1311 is provided with an energizingcoil 184 for interlocking the contact member 180 into a circuitestablishing position until the limit switch 182 is actuated as by meansof a limit indicator 186 which is mechanically connected to the limitswitch 182. The limit indicator 186 is disposed in the path of movementof the crank 84 and the operation thereof will be described hereinafter.

In operation, a wound coil 12 is loaded on a rotatable arm 28 from asuitable source of supply and the arm 28 is moved from a verticalposition to a substantially horizontal position to deposit the woundcoil 12 on the rollers 24. With the switch 152 or 153 in a circuitclosing position, the motor 18 is energized to actuate the rollers 14and move the wound coil of steel lengthwise of the conveyor system 10 toa point where the wound coil 12 is disposed substantially over thespaced conical rollers 34, 36 and 38. As long as a coil 12 is notpositioned over the conical rollers, the limiting mechanism 150 is notoperated and the switch 152 is placed in a circuit closing positionwhereby the manually operable switch 153 need not be actuated or may bereleased to return to its circuit interrupting position. When the woundcoil 12 contacts the limiting mechanism 150 the limit switch 152 isoperated to its circuit interrupting position to effectively stop theoperation of the motor 18 and consequently the operation of the rollers14 of the conveyor system.

With the wound coil 12 disposed over the conical rollers 34, 36 and 38,contact member 170 is manually operated to energize the electromagnet166 and actuate the valve 158 downwardly to a position where the fluidpressure is admitted through the port 160 and conduits 154 to thelifting cylinders '70 to effect an upward movement of the housing 32 andconsequently an upward movement of the rollers 34, 36 and 38 whereby theupper contacting surfaces thereof engage the wound coil 12 to lift thewound coil 12 above the plane of movement of the rollers of the conveyorsystem 10. When the coil 12 is supported in this manner the bandingmachine 144 is moved into a banding position to effectively band thewound coil in one position. When such a banding operation is completed,the manually operated contact memher 181) is actuated to a circuitclosing position whereby an energizing circuit is established throughthe limit switch 182 to energize the windings 178 of the interlock 172and the holding winding 184 to effectively hold the contact member 181)in its circuit establishing position. When the winding178 is energized,contact. member 176 is moved to a circuit interrupting position andcontact member 174 is moved to a circuit establishing position to effectthe energization of the motor 78 to drive the gear reducer 82 and effecta rotating movement of the crank 84.

For the purpose of this description it can be assumed that the woundcoil 12 is to be banded in four positions.

This being the case, arm @6 is placed in the position illustrated inFig. 5 where the pin cooperates with and engages a cam surface of thecam pattern 112. This being the case, as the crank 84 is rotated as bymeans of the shaft 86 of the gear reducer, the pin 110 engages the pinreceiving abutment 124 to effect a clockwise movement of the gear wheel76 as viewed in Fig. 5, it being noted that for one complete revolutionof the crank 84 the gear wheel 76 will be indexed one-quarter of arevolution. As the crank 84 approaches the completion of a revolution itengages and lifts the limit mechanism 186 to actuate the limit switch182 to a circuit interrupting position whereby the windings 184 and 178are deenergized and the deenerized interlock 172 returns to the positionillustrated, the simultaneous movement of the contact members 174 and176 to the positions illustrated being effective to interrupt theenerging circuit of the motor 78 and establish an energizing circuit forthe magnetic brake 146, respectively, it being noted that the drive ofthe crank is sufficient to effect a movement of the crank 84 past thelimit mechanism 186 prior to the stoppage of the gear reducer 82 so thatthe limit mechanism 186 is reset for the next rotating movement of thecrank 84 and the limit switch 182 is returned to a circuit establishingposition. Simultaneously the magnetic brake 146 effectively stops thegear wheel 76 from further movement thereby preventing furtherrotationof the conical rollers 34, 36 and 38 whereby the wound coil 12 carriedthereby is maintained in the next predetermined banding position tobebanded by the banding machine 144. It is to be noted that during therevolu: tions of the crank 84 the arm 96 is first actuated while the pin110 thereof engages the pin receiving abutment 124 to effect a quarterturn of the gear wheel 76 and as the movement of the crank 84 continuesto complete a revolution, the pin 110 rides on the cam surface 116 to aposition where, upon completion of a revolution of the crank 84, the pin110 will be seated in engagement with the pin receiving abut-ment whichhas been in- 7 dexed forwardly one-quarter of a turn. This operation iscontinued until the coil 12 has been moved through four successivepositions and handed in such four positions.

Upon completion of the banding of the coil 12, contact member 168 ismoved to a circuit establishing position to energize the winding 164 toefiect the movement of the valve 158 upwardly whereby the fluid pressureof the lifting cylinders '70 flows through the conduits 154 and the port162 of the valve mechanism 156 to permit the housing 32 and consequentlythe conical rollers 3 36 and 38 to return to their normal position bygravity and deposit the banded wound coil 12 on the rollers 14 of theconveyor system 11 and the conical rollers 34, 36 and 38 are disposedbelow the plane of movement of the coil 12 on the rollers 14 as shown insolid lines in Fig. 4. When the coil supporting mechanism 32 is in itslowered position the contact member 153 is again actuated to energizethe motor 18 to effectively drive the rollers 14 to move the bandedwound coil 12 from its position over the conical rollers at which timethe switch 152 is moved to its circuit closing position and the switch153 can be released. The motor 18 is thus maintained energized tooperate the conveyor system to move another unbanded wound coil 12 intoposition over the conical rollers 34, 36 and 38 where the limit switch152 is again operated and the sequence of operating the liftingmechanism and indexing equipment is repeated.

If the wound coil 12 is to be handed in only three positions, the arm 96is manually lifted about its pivot formed by the pins 102 and 104 and ispivotally moved about the downwardly projecting pin 88 of the crank 84to a position where the pin 110 will engage one of the cam surfaces 132,134 or 136 of the smaller cam pattern 114.

The same sequence of operation of the controls will be had except thatthe wound coil will be actuated through only three banding positionsinstead of the four referred to hereinbefore when the arm 96 ispositioned to cooperate with the cam pattern 112.

As is evident from the foregoing description, apparatus is provided forthe mechanical handling of a wound strip coil for facilitating thebanding thereof in a predetermined number of positions. With theapparatus described it has been found that there is little if any damageto the coil during handling and movement thereof in effecting thebanding of the coil.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of movement, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means associated with the roller conveyor and normally disposedbelow said plane of movement, means for actuating said coil engagingmeans from said normal position upwardly to engage the coil and lift thecoil above said plane of movement and out of contact with the rollerconveyor, said coil engaging means comprising a plurality of radiallyspaced cone rollers and means for supporting the spaced cone rollers inradially disposed angularly displaced relation whereby the upper surfaceof each cone roller has a lengthwise contact line in a common horizontalplane, and means disposed to drive the cone rollers when the coil islifted above said plane of movement to rotatably index the coil througha predetermined number of band receiving positions.

2. Apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of move ment, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyor andnormally disposed below said plane of movement, means for actuating saidcoil engaging means upwardly from said normal position to engage thelower surface of the horizontally disposed coil when the coil ispositioned thereover and lift the coil above said plane of movement andout of contact with the roller conveyon'said coil engaging meanscomprising a plurality of radially extending spaced cone rollers andmeans for supporting the spaced cone rollers in radially disposedangularly displaced relation whereby the upper surface of each coneroller has a lengthwise contact line in a common horizontal plane forengaging the coil, and means disposed to simultaneously drive the conerollers when the coil is lifted above said plane of movement torotatably index the coil through a predetermined number of bandreceiving positions.

3. In apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of F movement, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyor andnormally below said plane of movement, said coil engaging meanscomprising a housing disposed for vertical movement and a plurality ofradially extending spaced cone rollers disposed in angularly displacedrelation on the upper end of the housing whereby the upper surface ofeach cone roller has a lengthwise contact line in a common horizontalplane, means disposed to actuate the housing upwardly to move the conerollers into engagement with the coil and lift the coil above said planeof movement and out of contact wth the roller conveyor, and meansconnected with each of the cone rollers disposed to be driven tosimultaneously drive the cone rollers when the coil is lifted above saidplane of movement to rotatably index the coil through a predeterminednumber of band receiving positions.

4. Apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of movement, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyor andnormally below said plane of movement, said coil engaging meanscomprising a housing disposed for vertical movement and a plurality ofradially extending spaced cone rollers disposed in angularly displacedrelation in the upper end of the housing whereby the upper surface ofeach cone roller has a lengthwise contact line in a common horizontalplane, means disposed to actuate the housing upwardly to move the conerollers into engagement with the coil when the coil is positionedthereover and lift the coil above said plane of movement, and out ofcontact with the roller conveyor gear means connected between the conerollers and disposed to be driven to effect simultaneous rotatingmovement thereof, and means disposed to intermittently drive said gearmeans and rotate the cone rollers whereby the coil carried thereby isrotatably indexed through a predetermined number of band receivingpositions.

5. Apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of movement, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyor andnormally below said plane of movement, means for actuating said coilengaging means upwardly from said normal position to engage the coil andlift the coil upwardly above said plane of movement and out of contactwith the roller conveyor, said coil engaging means comprising aplurality of radially spaced cone rollers and means for supporting thespaced cone rollers in radially disposed angularly displaced relationwith the upper surface of each of the cone rollers having a lengthwisecoil engaging contact line disposed in a common horizontal plane, meansdisposed to simultaneously drive the cone rollers when the coil islifted above said plane of movement to rotatably index the coil througha predetermined number of band receiving positions, and means disposedto be operated as the coil is indexed to each of said positions to stopthe drive of the cone rollers to maintain the coil in a band receivingposition.

6. Apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound'coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of movement, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyor andnormally below said plane of movement, means for actuating said coilengaging means upwardly from said normal position to engage the coil andlift the coil upwardly above said plane of movement and out of contactwith V the roller conveyor, said coil engaging means comprising aplurality of radially spaced cone rollers and means for supporting thespaced cone rollers in radially disposed angularly displaced relationwith the upper surfaces thereof having a lengthwise coil engagingcontact line disposed in a common horizontal plane, gear means connectedbetween the cone rollers and disposed to be operated to effect asimultaneous rotation of the cone rollers, indexing means disposed to beoperated to effect an operation of the gear means to rotatably index thecoil carried by the cone rollers through a number of predetermined bandreceiving positions, and means disposed to be operated by the indexingmeans as the coil is indexed to each of said predetermined positions tostop the operation of the gear means and rotation of the cone rollers tomaintain the coil in a band receiving position.

7. Apparatus for effecting the banding of a wound coil disposedhorizontally on a roller conveyor for lengthwise movement thereof in apredetermined plane of movement, the combination therewith of, coilengaging means disposed intermediate the ends of the roller conveyor andnormally below said plane of movement, means for actuating said coilengaging means upwardly from said normal position to engage the coil andlift the coil upwardly above said plane of movement and out of contactwith the roller conveyor, said coil engaging means comprising aplurality of radially spaced cone rollers and means for supporting thespaced cone rollers in radially disposed angularly displaced relationwith the upper surfaces thereof having a lengthwise coil engagingcontact line disposed in a common horizontal plane, gear means connectedbetween the cone rollers and disposed to be operated to effect asimultaneous rotation of the cone rollers, indexing means disposed to beoperated to effect an operation of the gear means to rotatably index thecoil carried by the cone rollers through a number of predetermined bandreceiving positions, a motor disposed to be energized to effect anoperation of the indexing means, limit switch means disposed to beoperated by a 10 predetermined operation of the indexing means to effectthe deenergization of said indexing motor and stop the operation of thegear means to maintain the coil in a band receiving position, and manualswitch means disposed to be operated for effecting the energization ofsaid indexing motor after each banding operation.

8. In apparatus for supporting and rotating a horizontally disposedcoil, the combination comprising, a plurality of radially spaced conerollers, means for supporting the spaced cone rollers in radiallydisposed angularly displaced relation with the upper surface of each ofthe cone rollers having a lengthwise coil engaging contact line disposedin a first common plane above the supporting means for receiving a coilthereon, means connected to the supporting means and disposed to actuatethe radially spaced cone rollers upwardly and move the coil engagingcontact lines to a second common plane above said first common plane,and means connected between said cone rollers disposed for operation tosimultaneously drive the cone rollers in a predetermined direction.

9. In apparatus for supporting and rotating a horizon tally disposedcoil, the combination comprising, a plurality of radially spaced conerollers, means for supporting the spaced cone rollers in radiallydisposed angularly displaced relation mounted with the upper surface ofeach of the cone rollers having a lengthwise coil engaging contact linedisposed in a first common plane above the supporting means forreceiving a coil thereon, means connected to the supporting means anddisposed to actuate the radially spaced cone rollers upwardly and movethe coil engaging contact lines to a second common plane above saidfirst common plane, gears means connected between the cone rollers anddisposed to be driven to effect a simultaneous rotating movement thereofin a predetermined direction, and means connected to the gear meansdisposed to be intermittently operated to effect an intermittent driveof the gear means and rotation of the cone rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,859,375 Tenuta May 24, 1932 2,632,382 Knott Mar. 24, 1953 2,684,626Eberle July 27, 1954 2,700,332 Donald Jan. 25, 1955 2,835,194 Crosby May20, 1958

